Former president Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing a comeback as Mayor of Davao City with his son, incumbent Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, as his running mate.
The Duterte patriarch disclosed this information in a press conference held at his residence and aired over SMNI on Saturday evening.
The former president said that while the desire to run for a higher national public office is there, his body could no longer keep up with its demands because of his age.
“You think I can still carry a national campaign? At my age? Do you want me die? The desire is there but matrabaho kasi ‘yan. Baka mag-collapse ako (it takes a lot of work. I might collapse),” Duterte told reporters.
“I will be required to travel a lot, physical movement… The desire to become a senator is there, but ang problema ang katawan natin ‘di na kaya (the problem is that my body could not do it anymore,” he added, acknowledging the clamor of his supporters for him to seek a Senate seat.
Duterte said he is ready to retire, but understands there are people who still want him to continue his public life. For this reason, he opened himself to a possible return as mayor of Davao City, a position he held for most of his political career before winning the 2016 presidential elections.
“I am ready to retire, but I am open to suggestions. What do you want me to run? Mayor? Is that the popular clamor? Does the sentiment of the media reflect the community? ‘Yan ba Ang gusto ng mga tao? (Is that what the people want?)” he asked.
“Sige, if ‘yan ang gusto ng tao, tatakbo ako (Okay, if that is what the people want, I will run) as mayor of Davao,” Duterte said after the media all suggested that they want him to run as mayor.
The elder Duterte added his youngest son, who inherited his position as mayor of Davao City, could be his vice mayor. When asked if there is anyone else in his family who could join the senatorial race on their behalf, the former president said:
“I really don’t know. ‘Di pa kami nag-usap. (We have not discussed it.) We have yet to sit down as this is very late already, filing na (the filing has started). We need to talk what we would like (for) things to happen in our political life.”
Duterte was also asked about his grandson entering politics. Rodrigo ‘Rigo’ Duterte III recently filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for councilor of Davao City. He is the second son of Rep. Paolo Duterte, the eldest son of the former president.
The Duterte patriarch acknowledged the influence he has on his children and grandchildren, so he is no longer surprised they also decided to work in politics.
“I am not surprised. As much as I don’t want them to because politics is messy and there are better jobs out there than being politicians, you know, the reason why (they chose to be in politics) is because we come from a political family,” Duterte said partly in Tagalog.
“Even in post war, my father became the Mayor of Danao, so hindi talaga kami nawala sa pulitika (we really did not move away from politics),” he added, noting that this legacy might be passed on to the next generation.
